Canal de Montech à Montauban: Cruising in Detail

Information about the 11km of canal from the Canal de Garonne at Montech to Montauban, on the River Tarn. The canal – properly called the Canal de Montech à Montauban – is short, passing through fairly flat countryside but is also very attractive and has been comprehensively restored and improved in recent years.

There are 10 easy ecluses (maximum 3m rise/fall) along its length, operated by a remote control that is available at the first ecluse above Lacourt-St-Pierre. (VNF 05 63 64 73 04 or 06 62 99 48 02 or 06 62 99 49 58) A final, deep, ecluse provides access onto the River Tarn but had been out of commission for a number of years. This lock has now been renovated and will re-open the Montauban Tarn to limited cruising in in 2011. There are also plans to re-open the 5 associated downstream river ecluses and so provide a river route through Montauban to Moissac.

See also general notes (foot of page).

Basic Information

• Approximate minimum depth 1.60m, headroom 3.7m, width 5.45m. These are the ‘book’ values and may vary according to conditions.
• The canal carries no commercial traffic.
• The speed limit is 8kph, 3kph past moored boats.
• Using a pilot-guide book is strongly recommended: Breil Guides or Fluviacarte (Navicarte) Guides.

PK0 Canal de Garonne Junction (Montech)

The photograph shows (left) the top gates of the highest of the flight of Canal de Garonne ecluses at Montech, (centre) the entrance to the water slope (used only by commercial and tripper craft) and (right) the bridge over the Montauban Canal.

For the Canal de Garonne (at Montech) click here.

PK3 Lacourt-Saint-Pierre

A small, pretty village with an excellent quayside mooring (approx. 5€ per night) – water and electricity (06 13 88 63 25 or 05 63 67 49 31 afternoons only). Epicierie-bar in the village. Big 19thC chateau.

Just beyond Lacourt, the ‘home mooring’ of Barbara and Alsdair Wylie’s superb hotel barge “Saint-Louis”.

PK11 Montauban

An historic and beautiful town, Montauban, the birthplace of Ingres, lies on the River Tarn, which is prone to winter deluges. The photo, bottom right, shows the Pont Vieux (completed 1335) which has large arched openings above the bridge spans, to allow extreme flood waters to pass through. In the centre of the photo, the Museé Ingres has a huge number of his paintings and was originally the castle of the English Black Prince.

The PdP is new (2008) and includes a le Boat hire boat base. 05 63 20 55 24 (speak to Marie-Helene). Its location is pleasant, public, but feels safe. The town is a fairly easy 10-15min walk away, but the route can include one very low and smelly tunnel under the adjacent railway line. Or alternatively – and better – take the rather vertiginous stone steps by the Descent au Tarn lock, under the railway and out by the gorgeous (but peeling) Art Deco Club d’Aviron. For the nearest boulangerie, take the side of the lock nearest the graffitid lock-house, continue along the track by the river that then rejoins the road, and then turn right.

Links to information about passing through the ecluse and the navigable River Tarn at Montauban beyond (and Moissac).